Philodendron plant named ‘SHANGRI-LA’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Philodendron  cultivar named ‘SHANGRI-LA’ is disclosed, characterized by deeply lobed foliage and short, compact plants with abundant basal stems. The new variety is a  Philodendron , normally produced as an indoor ornamental container plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Philodendron bippinatifidum.

Variety denomination: ‘SHANGRI-LA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Philodendron cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor at a research nursery in Queensland,Australia. The new variety was selected during 2015 at a researchnursery in Queensland, Australia.

During 2014 seed was collected from an unnamed, unpatented proprietaryPhilodendron bippinatifidum. The pollen parent cannot be identified asseed was the result of an open-pollination with several Philodendronbippinatifidum present. The new variety was selected from the resultantseedlings based on the compact habit observed.

First asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘SHANGRI-LA’ wasperformed by vegetative terminal cuttings in 2015, and subsequently bytissue culture. First propagation occurred at the same research nurseryin Queensland, Australia. Multiple generations have been produced, andhave shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘SHANGRI-LA’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘SHANGRI-LA’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘SHANGRI-LA’ as a new and distinct Philodendroncultivar:

-   -   1. Short and compact plant habit.    -   2. Multiple basal stems.    -   3. Deeply lobed leaf blades with maturity.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SHANGRI-LA’ are comparable to the seedparent variety in most horticultural characteristics however, the newvariety ‘SHANGRI-LA’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety is significantly shorter than the parent        variety.    -   2. The new variety produces multiple main stems, the parent        variety produces one to three main stems.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SHANGRI-LA’ are comparable to the varietyPhilodendron hybridum ‘Little Hope’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,282. The twoPhilodendron varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristicshowever, the new variety ‘SHANGRI-LA’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. Mature height of the new variety is taller than the mature        height of ‘Little Hope’. The new variety is a short variety,        while ‘Little Hope’ is a very short variety.    -   2. The new variety is a fuller, denser plant than ‘Little Hope’,        producing more main stems.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘SHANGRI-LA’ are comparable to the commercialvariety Philodendron hybridum ‘Hope’, unpatented. The two Philodendronvarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however thenew variety differs in the following:

-   -   1. Mature height of the new variety is shorter than the mature        height of ‘Hope’. The new variety is a short variety, while        ‘Hope’ is a medium height variety.    -   2. The new variety is a fuller, denser plant than ‘Hope’,        producing more main stems.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph illustrates in full color a plant of‘Shangri-La’ in a 25 cm pot, approximately 8 months old from a singlerooted tissue culture plantlet. The photograph was taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘SHANGRI-LA’ plants grown in a climatecontrolled greenhouse in Melbourne, Australia. Temperatures ranged from5° C. to 15° C. at night to 18° C. to 40° C. during the day. Noartificial light, photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants.Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical planttypes.

-   Botanical classification: Philodendron bippinatifidum ‘SHANGRI-LA’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 30 to 50 days at approximately            23° C.        -   Root description.—Fleshy, medium-thick, roots covered in            fine lateral roots. Colored near RHS White 155A.-   Plant:    -   -   Age of the plant described.—Approximately 9 months from a            single rooted tissue culture plantlet, planted in a 25 cm            pot.        -   Growth habit.—Compact, upright habit; freely branching from            the base; very dense habit, vigorous growth; leave attitude            upright, ageing to arching.        -   Height.—Approximately 40 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Approximately 60 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Rapid.        -   Branching characteristics.—Approximately 7 to 16 basal            stems.        -   Length of stem.—11 cm.        -   Diameter of stem.—1.3 cm.        -   Characteristics of stem.—Form: Round. Color: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 146C. Texture: Glabrous. Strength: Very strong.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate to whorled.        -   Average length.—Approximately 27 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 27 cm at widest point.        -   General description.—Highly lobed, overall oblate. immature            leaves entire ageing to deeply divided.        -   Shape of blade.—Pinnatipartite.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Hastate.        -   Margin.—Immature entire, mature deeply sinuate.        -   Appearance of top surface.—Smooth, glabrous, glossy.        -   Appearance of bottom surface.—Smooth, glabrous, dull to            medium glossy.        -   Pubescence.—Absent.        -   Aspect.—Slightly upwardly cupped.        -   Color.—Young foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Young            foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A. Mature            foliage upper side: Near RHS Green 137B. Mature foliage            under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146A.        -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 146B. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 145A.        -   Petiole.—Average Length: Approximately 40 cm. Average Width:            Approximately 1.4 cm. Color: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146C.            Texture: Smooth.-   Flower: Flowering has not been observed.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to pathogens and pests common to Philodendron            have been observed.        -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates            temperatures between 0 to 45° C.        -   Fruit/seed production.—Not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Philodendron plantnamed ‘SHANGRI-LA’ as herein illustrated and described.